Volitan

[djcanis]

So I know I am having a bit of Cyano problem at the moment but I am planning my next addition anyway. I need some advice. I currently have a Maroon Clown, Eibli Angel (sp), Lawnmower Blenny, Green Chromie (only 1) and a Coral Banded Shrimp. There are also a few hermits and will be a few snails once I replace them. I was looking into a couple possibilities. I have a 30 gal with 40lbs or LR, and a CC base. My first thought was another 6 line, but I have noticed a severe drop off in bristle worms and what not and dont want it to starve. My other thoughts were a copper band butterfly or possibly a small volitan. I am planning on making the move to a 120 or larger in the next year. So growth is not the issue. Would the volitan go after the other stuff in teh tank? What are you suggestions. I am lookign for somthing colorful, the tank is getting very bla in terms of color, and somthing with a bit of personality. I would like another Manderian, but unfortunatly I know it would not last long enough in the small tank till I make the move. Any thoughts. Thanks!

 

[mie]

It will eat anything it can fit into it's mouth smaller fism mostly. Same size fish and larger will be ok. Just curious how do you know that your bristle worm population is down? They are usually very reclusive and regularly seen, and the coral banded shrimp loves to eat them.

 

[dragonzim]

Volitans can also grow incredibly fast so a year in a 30 gallon would be WAY too long for one. I had one that grew about 6 inches in a year.

 

[sk8shorty01]

what about something like a purple firefish, watchman goby, purple pseudochromis, or possibly a golden angel. I dont know how large those golden angels get but I have never seen one longer than about 2 inches, and they have some amazing colors. They are a part of the dwarf angel family so I would think they would get no bigger than a flame angel or coral beauty.

 

[djcanis]

I already have an angel in the tank and SWF recommends not having another angel along with my Eibli. As far as bristle worms, I used to use a flashlight in the middle of the night, after the room was pitch black for hours and you could literally see tons of them crawling in and out fo the LR and CC, but they are slowly disappearing. I am hoping to have the new tank by christmas, my concern is 200lbs of liverocka dn 150 of sand. A little out of my budget, but if I cure my own dry rock and base rock it should be a reality by March. I saw a Volitan at the LFS, it was only about 2 inches, thing was tiny, not much bigger then a full grown damsel. My concern is will it last in my tank. It would be the smallest fish, but I wasnt sure if they would be agressive toward larger fish. Also, would he grow more then 3 or 4 inches in 6 to 8 months.
One other thing. I saw the coolest scene last night. My shrimp pulled a molt out from under the rock of my blue leg. Carried it all the was across the tank, sat on the rock and ate it for like an hour. Is this bad? Normally I am quick to scoop the molts out, but didnt even see it till he got ahold of it. I didnt think it could hurt him, but wasnt to sure.
Thanks
Brian

 

[petjunkie]

Volitan grow huge very quickly, they will start at about two inches and hit six or seven in a couple months. Plus he would eat all his tankmates and cause your water quality to head very downhill. Honestly you have more fish than recommended now, I had a similar load in a 33 gallon packed full of live rock and had nitrate issues. Never buy a fish with plans to upgrade, look around this site, there's tons of people with plans to upgrade or a tank in the works and in the meanwhile you have a huge fish stuck in a tiny tank. Always wait until the tank is up and running first. It may end up getting pushed back. You can leave molts in the tank, the cleanup crew will eat them very quickly.

 

[djcanis]

Thats what I figured, but I ask anyway. Always tryin to learn more. I figured they grow fast with there size. Most of my fish are small and havent grown much in the year since the last addition, the angel is only 2 1/2 inches, the clown is about 2, and the blenny and chromie are about an inch. I figured somthing about 2 inches or less would be ok, I was always under the impression of about 1 inch of fish for ever 3 gallons of water or so. I would still be way under 10 inch of fish.

 

[mie]

The molt contains calcium and other nutrients that is benneficial the the shrimp. Just because you dont see the worms does not mean that they are not there, The cb shrimp is also eating them. How often do you feed the cb shrimp?

 

[djcanis]

If you mean actually fed him, never. It, like the rest of the fish see me grab the flake food from the side of the tank and they rise to the top, the shrimp crawls up on the higest rock and pulls in pieces of food. Not to mentin it is constantly picking things out of the LL & CC. I didnt think I actually had to feed it seperatly, it has at least tripled in size in the year I have had it, so I figured it was healthy.

 

[walkerbrody]

I would not go with the copper banded either. They are very difficult to feed. Most all starve and die quickly. Fuzzy dwarf lionfish and fu man chew lionfish would fit if small in your tank, but same feeding habits apply.